On a mid-June morning as his program's first year in a new conference drew ever-closer, Notre Dame coach Mike Brey sounded relaxed and certain the transition from the Big East would be a smooth one for the Fighting Irish.

The presence of veteran guards Eric Atkins and Jerian Grant would do that for any coach.

"They have played a lot with each other and have been really good," Brey said then. "Having them in their fourth year, when they’ve seen it all, it helps me sleep at night going into the ACC.”

Here's hoping Brey is well-rested, because things got a whole lot bumpier for the Fighting Irish on Sunday.

Grant, Notre Dame's leader in points, assists and steals, announced he has withdrawn from the university "due to an academic matter that I did not handle properly." He professed his eagerness to return next season (Grant redshirted as a freshman) and took responsibility for his transgression.

That does little for the Fighting Irish (8-4) at the moment. Notre Dame was already a mild underachiever this season, losing at home to Indiana State and North Dakota State. Atkins hasn't shot as well as he did last year, leaving it to Grant and forward Garrick Sherman to handle heavier scoring loads.

Grant's done more than his share, right through Saturday's near-upset of Ohio State at Madison Square Garden. He's second in the ACC in assists (6.2 per game), fifth in scoring (19.0), free throw percentage (.865) and steals (2.0) and seventh in field goal percentage (.518)

Without him, an already frontcourt-heavy Notre Dame roster will either have to play big lineups the rest of the way or (more likely) bump freshmen into larger roles. Brey had the luxury of being able to afford off nights from Demetrius Jackson and to use Steve Vasturia on only an occasional basis. He no longer does.

While Brey's postseason history leaves a bit to be desired, his regular-season record is impeccable. Year after year, he figures out a rotation (often a small one) and a style of play by the time conference play arrives and usually exceeds expectations over a 30-game sample size.

Notre Dame was left for dead early in the 2011-12 season when fifth-year senior Tim Abromaitis suffered a torn ACL in late November. The Fighting Irish still recovered to win 22 games and reach the NCAA tournament.

This might be an even tougher task. Notre Dame doesn't have the advantage of familiarity with the rest of the ACC, so there's going to be a trial-and-error period. More importantly, there's less time between Grant's departure and the grind of conference play than there was when Abromaitis was injured.

The prospect of playing Duke and North Carolina and Virginia (not to mention Syracuse and Pittsburgh) was a lot more palatable when Grant was available. Brey was comforted over the summer knowing he'd have his lead guard in a new league. Without Grant, Brey can expect quite a few sleepless nights over the next few months.

As for a look at what happened on the floor Sunday in the ACC ...

DAY TO REMEMBER

G Rion Brown, Miami

It was a fine all-around day for the senior, who had 18 points, nine rebounds and four assists as the Hurricanes (7-5) handled La Salle 71-58 at home.

Brown scored 15 points in the second half as Miami assured itself of a winning record entering 2014. Considering the Hurricanes lost their opener to St. Francis Brooklyn, needed overtime to beat Georgia Southern and scored only 48 points in a defeat of Cal State Fullerton, that was far from a sure thing less than a month ago.

DAY TO FORGET

Boston College

It was just another miserable game for the Eagles (4-8), who took a 77-67 loss at Auburn into the holiday. Boston College trailed by at least eight for the entire second half and by as many as 20, and if not for 28 points from guard Olivier Hanlan it would have been even worse.

The Eagles produced their trademark defense, too, as Auburn shot 10 of 22 from 3-point range, committed only seven turnovers and for the most part had its way with Steve Donahue’s team. With Virginia Commonwealth, Harvard and 17 ACC games still to come, it’s going to be a long winter for one of the country’s most disappointing teams.

NUMBER OF NOTE

7

Players used in Miami’s victory over La Salle, the second straight game coach Jim Larranaga has used only two substitutes. The Hurricanes won both games and had no foul issues against the Explorers, but it will be curious to see if Miami can function with such a short bench when it returns to league play next month.

ON TAP MONDAY

Norfolk State at Virginia (7, ESPN3): The Cavaliers (8-3) close out the ACC’s pre-Christmas schedule with a visit from the Spartans (8-4), a veteran bunch that won an NCAA tournament game in 2012 and lost to Virginia in the NIT last March.